ICANN Makes Progress on GDPR-Compliant Framework for Access to Domain Name Data

USCIB Vice President for ICT Policy Barbara Wanner played a leadership role representing USCIB commercial interests at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ ICANN 62 Policy Forum, which wrapped up on June 28 in Panama City, Panama. The four-day meeting brought together participants from business, government, civil society, and the technical community from throughout the world to focus on policy priorities for the Internet domain name system.

This year’s forum was especially timely, coming on the heels of ICANN’s May 17 issuance of a temporary specification for global top-level domain (gTLD) registration data. This action would enable “tiered access” to domain name registrant data, ensuring that ICANN and the industry of more than 1,000 gTLD registries and registrars comply with existing ICANN contractual requirements concerning the collection of registration data and meet the new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which went into effect on May 25.

Also in the spotlight was ICANN’s proposed framework to enable third-party access to non-public domain registration data for legitimate law enforcement, consumer protection, brand management and intellectual property protection purposes. The General Names Supporting Organization Council, ICANN’s policy making body, spent virtually the entire forum developing a charter for an “expedited policy development process” (EPDP), which aims to replace the temporary specification within one year. Wanner noted that the council made significant progress and set an ambitious timeline to complete the charter and launch the EPDP by the end of July. “The charter ultimately will define the scope of the policymaking process,” she said.

Wanner also highlighted that notwithstanding the intense focus on GDPR/data access, the ICANN community realized another important milestone at the policy forum. The Cross-Community Working Group on Enhancing ICANN Accountability completed its work on the second phase of issues related to the March 2016 transition from the U.S. government to ICANN stakeholders of oversight of certain domain name functions. “The hours of tireless volunteer input very competently moved forward important community work on the IANA transition, representing a notable achievement for ICANN’s multi-stakeholder process,” Wanner said.

Click below to view a video introduction to Wanner and the other members of the Commercial Stakeholder Group.

Barbara Wanner directs USCIB’s work on information, communications and technology issues. She works with members and government officials on a wide range of international business issue that include advocating for the continuation of the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance and for policies aimed at promoting the stability, openness and innovative flexibility of the Internet. She represents USCIB members’ interests in several international forums, including the UN, APEC and the OECD.Read More